LANSING, MI -- The Republican Governors Association is going on the air in Michigan five and a half months before Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to take on Democratic challenger Mark Schauer in the November election.

The Washington Post, citing anonymous Democratic sources, reports that the RGA will spend roughly $400,000 to air a television commercial in Michigan over the course of the next week or more.

The ad is expected to air in the Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids markets.

FCC records reviewed by MLive.com indicate the RGA has purchased 61 different time slots on WJBK-TV in Detroit between March 24 and 31, concluding with pre- and post-game coverage of Tigers Opening Day.

The RGA declined to discuss the commercial with The Washington Post, and the subject of the new ad is not known. The group released a pro-Snyder web spot earlier this month, which you can see below, and noted that some of the footage could eventually end up on television.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie visited Michigan last week to raise funds for the RGA. Snyder joined him at an event in Grand Rapids.

The ad buy comes on the heels of a recent poll showing that Schauer had gained ground on Snyder in the wake of a statewide ad campaign paid for by the Democratic Governors Association.

Michigan is expected to see significant political spending from outside groups in 2014. With potentially competitive races for governor and U.S. Senate, media analysts have predicted Michigan could be home to some of the most saturated media markets in the country.

Video: RGA web ad released earlier this month

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Google+ or follow him on Twitter.